Brat und Brau headed to Madison's north side

"It seemed like the majority of our customers were coming from Madison," says owner Patrick Hiebing of the move back to the city.

The original Brat und Brau was at 1421 Regent St.; subsequent locations opened on South Stoughton Road, Mineral Point Road, and in the East and West Towne food courts. Thos locations were all closed by 2001, but Hiebing tried reviving the restaurant in Mazo last year. It closed by December.

"I was mostly looking for any place in Madison that already had a walk-in cooler and a hood," says Hiebing. He found the former Hamann Charcuterie space in the Northside Town Center, 2933 N. Sherman Ave., across the street from Warner Park. The space will allow for seating about 80-90, just about the right size for what Hiebing had in mind. Hiebing is expecting some traffic from this summer's Mallards games, but the north side's relative lack of restaurants compared to other areas of town could also prove a boon.

Customers order at the counter by filling out a paper order slip for items on a eight-item sandwich menu of brats and burgers, with a chicken sandwich, a fish sandwich, and a steak sandwich in addition to appetizers. Brats remain the original house recipe. Four beers will be on tap as well as bottled beers. Hiebing expects to open June 17, with the liquor license kicking in July 2.